"They're doing some things they shouldn't be doing, and the sooner they stop, the better it will be for them," deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

"The Syrians should know that what they do now, they will be held accountable for."

Wolfowitz said that did not mean the United States was planning to invade Syria, but that Damascus could suffer diplomatic or other consequences after the war in Iraq.

"Military is not the only instrument, it isn't necessarily the main instrument" in dealing with countries that support terrorism, he said.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld renewed allegations on Thursday that Iraq-bound shipments of military equipment were transiting through its territory.

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